Squid Game x Reader

Nine

The three of us find our way to a nearby convenience store. The streets are quiet making me assume it's quite late out. My phone is flat so I'm unsure what the actual time is. 

Once we're in the store, Sang-woo buys two bowls of ramen off the clerk. His eyes meet mine as he asks, "(Y/n), are you hungry?" 

"No," I lie. 

"What do you want to eat?"

"No, really. I'm good."

He gives me a dry look then turns back to the clerk. "Can you make that three bowls?" 

"You don't have to-" 

He sighs. "It's just ramen, (y/n)." 

I decide against protesting anymore as my stomach pangs from hunger. I hate people buying me stuff, but I'm not about to be dramatic over some noodles.

Sang-woo hands me and the other man our ramen. We take them and sit by a table next to a window. Sang-woo lingers back, buying a portable charger off the clerk. I assume his phone must be dead too.  

The man next to me digs into his noodles, slurping them up eagerly. I stare with a blank gaze into my own bowl. The food smells amazing but as the events of today flash through my mind I find it hard to pick up my chopsticks. 

"Aren't you hungry?" the Pakistani man asks, swallowing down a mouthful of food. 

"I thought I was."

"You should really eat. It'll make you feel better." 

It won't get out of my head; the images of blood, the piles of dead bodies, the fear flashing through someone's eyes as they realise they're about to have their life taken. "Honestly, I think I'll throw up if I touch any food right now." 

His face softens in understanding. "I know what you mean. But just have one bite at least. Something to help settle your stomach. I can hear it grumbling from here." 

I exhale softly, staring at my food that looks increasingly less appetising. But one bite can't hurt. I scoop up a small portion with my chopsticks and take a nibble. 

The man snickers. I realise he's still looking at me. "That was the smallest bite I've ever seen! I think a rabbit could take a bigger one than that."

"Well... I never said I would eat a lot." It doesn't taste bad. It's good, actually. But I can't help but gag as I finish chewing. I have to swallow hard to get it down my throat.

"You eat like a rabbit too. I think that should be my nickname for you," he says. "Little rabbit." 

"Uh, I'm not sure if I like that. I don't really want to be named after a fluffy creature that humps everything." He bursts out in laughter. It's so contagious I can't help but smile back softly. 

"So she can smile!" he says. "You've been frowning so much I didn't think you knew how to. You should do it more, by the way. You have a pretty smile." 

A faint blush tinges my cheeks as I mumble out a 'thanks'. Compliments aren't something I often receive. Most of them come from creepy old men at work or obnoxious university boys who smell like they've bathed in men's deodorant. 

"So, if you don't want to be referred to as a little rabbit, what should I call you?"

"I think my name is a good place to start. It's (y/n)."

"I'm Ali." He extends his hand towards me. I slide my palm into his, accepting the hand shake.

"Ali," Sang-woo comes over.  He hovers beside me as he passes his phone toward the other man. "You said you wanted to make a phone call?"